Chapter 249 - 226: Tang Wen: It’s Not That I Can’t Resist Temptation

Chapter 249: Chapter 226: Tang Wen: It’s Not That I Can’t Resist Temptation

The Experience Panel flickered.

The two Defense Techniques began to merge.

[Visualization Martial Arts, Golden Jade Body, Beginner (1/500)]

[Visualization Martial Arts, Golden Bell Shield, Mastery (5911/6000)]

The Contemplation Method changed accordingly.

Golden Jade Body focused on sinews and bones.

Golden Bell Shield focused on muscle and skin!

Combining the two was more than just a simple addition.

The effect was far greater than the sum of its parts.

[Visualization Martial Arts, Golden Bell Shield (Golden Jade Body), Master (3000/6000)]

Tang Wen’s eyelid twitched. ’Never mind that the Skill Level dropped, but the required experience also doubled? Seriously?’

’But this also means the Skill’s upper limit has increased.’

’The current "Master" Level must be equivalent to the original "Mastery" Level.’

He could foresee that as long as he grinded up the experience, his Defense Power would surely be far greater than that of the original Golden Bell Shield once he reached "Mastery" again.

There were a few other Defensive Hard Techniques in the gang.

’Maybe...’

’...I should learn them all?’

He hesitated.

Combining two Cultivation Techniques had already doubled the required experience.

’If I combine several more, won’t the amount of experience needed be astronomical?’

’On the other hand, experience for Defensive Hard Techniques is actually pretty easy to grind.’

’I just have to integrate it into my daily routine and keep a Hard Skill active at all times.’

First, he had to test the effects of the fused technique.

He half-closed his eyes and tried to use Visualization.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and looked.

There was only a faint black layer on his skin.

He could feel that his bones and fascia had been greatly strengthened!

Spiritual text flickered as he poured all his Spiritual Power into the Visualization Hard Technique.

The blackness on his skin immediately deepened by a few shades.

But compared to before, it was still as light as mist, as if a thin layer of carbon powder had been evenly spread over his skin.

He took out the dagger he carried and slashed at his skin.

Not a single mark was left on the carbon-powder-like skin.

A trace of surprise flashed in Tang Wen’s eyes.

He had just used thirty percent of his strength.

That was comparable to a full-strength blow from an ordinary Extraordinary.

He slashed again with fifty percent of his strength!

A red mark appeared, but there was no blood. His defense hadn’t been broken.

’It’s actually this strong.’

A brilliant light flickered in his star-like eyes.

Tang Wen made up his mind.

「Another day passed.」

Liang Yu left after delivering his meal.

Two more Cultivation Techniques appeared on his Experience Panel.

The two Defense Techniques, [Inexorable Stone Wall] and [Ancient Barbarian Stone Demon], had also been merged.

The former focused on the overall defense of the skin and muscles.

When this Cultivation Technique was trained to Great Success, upon activation, the user’s body would swell, and their outer form would be protected by what seemed to be a layer of rock.

The technique had its own drawback: it reduced one’s speed.

It was suitable for reckless people who charged into battle.

The latter, [Ancient Barbarian Stone Demon], enhanced all of one’s Attributes.

It was an enhancement from the inside out.

At Great Success, the user would transform into a red Demon.

Skin, muscle, fascia, and bone—none would be left unstrengthened.

Its comprehensiveness was both its strength and its weakness.

Being too comprehensive meant that it was actually weaker in each individual aspect.

Having no weaknesses was its greatest weakness.

The Experience Panel had an incredible ability to integrate Cultivation Techniques.

Golden Bell Shield, Golden Jade Body, Inexorable Stone Wall, and Ancient Barbarian Stone Demon—the four were combined into one.

[Visualization Martial Arts, Golden Jade Demon Body (Four Skills Combined), Beginner (3000/6000)]

Tang Wen was both excited and pained.

He was excited to see how high his Defense Power could go after reaching Great Success.

But he was pained by how much experience it consumed.

All his hard work over many days...

...gone overnight, sending him back to square one.

Combining four Cultivation Techniques had dropped him directly from "Mastery" to the "Beginner" Level.

He closed his eyes and activated "Golden Jade Demon Body."

A faint, golden-red color crept over his skin.

The color was extremely faint and inconspicuous.

If it weren’t for Tang Wen’s smooth and clear skin, it might not even have been visible.

He took out his dagger to test it. His Defense Power hadn’t decreased at all.

Even at just the Beginner Level, it could withstand fifty percent of his full strength, as well as the sharp dagger.

While maintaining his "Golden Jade Demon Body," he went to the adjacent stone chamber to study the [Ten Dragons and Ten Elephants Formulas].

This Cultivation Technique enhanced one’s Constitution and strength.

It could take effect passively, slowly improving the body.

It could also be actively cast during battle to greatly enhance Constitution, strength, and even body size.

After reading the description, his expression was a bit strange.

’During battle?’

’Does a one-on-one, or a one-on-many, battle at night also count as "battle"?’

At this thought, Tang Wen’s spirits lifted, and the exhaustion from several days of bitter cultivation lessened considerably.

The sun set and rose again.

He learned the Cultivation Technique.

[Visualization Martial Arts, Ten Dragons and Ten Elephants Formulas, Beginner (13/500)]

After several days and nights of arduous work, Tang Wen walked out of the stone chamber, his mind utterly exhausted.

So much so that he had the illusion that even lifting his legs to walk felt a little heavier.

He knew it was time to rest.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.

The soles of his shoes scraped against the ground.

At the entrance to the Armory, Elder Zhang, who had been half-dozing, suddenly snapped his eyes open. A sharp light burst from them as he stared at the emerging Tang Wen.

"Elder Zhang, is there anything I can help you with?"

Despite his fatigue and the urge to find a place to collapse and sleep immediately, Tang Wen still struggled to maintain his [Golden Jade Demon Body], steadied himself, and cupped his fist toward Elder Zhang.

’If I’m not mistaken, this Elder Zhang must be a Fifth Grade master.’

"What Hard Skill are you practicing?"

Elder Zhang stood up.

Perhaps because he was too old, he couldn’t straighten his back. He was stooped over, like an ordinary old man.

Tang Wen paused for a moment. "A mix of Golden Bell Shield and Ancient Barbarian Stone Demon."

A look of understanding flashed in Elder Zhang’s eyes. "Those two don’t conflict. Release your Spiritual Power and let me see."

"Yes."

Although his temples were already throbbing with pain, Tang Wen suppressed the twitching sensation and fully activated his Spiritual Power to probe his surroundings.

"You’ve come here twice in total. The first time for three days and three nights, the second for five days and four nights. Not bad, you’ve got a fierce drive. Come with me."

With that, Elder Zhang led Tang Wen deeper underground.